Daily Madden: Why Kaepernick Is Starting Sunday
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has named Colin Kaepernick the starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Rams, choosing him over former starter Alex Smith.
"My guess is that some of the things that they want to do - not only the things they want to do right now but down the road - Kaepernick can do better than Alex Smith," John Madden told the KCBS morning crew.
Smith led the 49ers to the playoffs last season and was 6-2-1 as the starter this season before being temporarily sidelined with a concussion. Kaepernick has played well in his two starts, demonstrating he can throw deep, run with the ball and avoid sacks.
"Knowing Jim Harbaugh, he wanted to do those things all his life," Madden said. "He inherited Alex Smith. There's nothing he could do about it except accept it and go in that direction. And he did a great job with it, but it's not his guy. He knew what he wanted, he drafted Kaepernick, and now he kind of has what he wants." So Kaepernick will start against the Rams, but Harbaugh hasn't made a commitment beyond Sunday's game. (7:35)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM. And catch John's extra report at 9:15 a.m. Mondays and Fridays during the NFL season.
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